President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[Saint John]

Except there's a complete absence of facts for his dismissal of that piece, which articulates the truth.

Sometimes, with you guys, it's just not worth it. I'm in a good mood.

Dan, what problem(s) do you, personally, have with the 9-9-9 plan?

The revenues issue, for one.

Killing Medicare is also, what, somewhat questionable?

It's great for small businesses and it's a phenomenal idea to get the "poor" (the same people that can afford cell phones, cigarettes, liquor, lottery tickets, $100 Nikes and every other fucking thing) to start paying up. Revenue? Not an issue. Right now, this country has, probably, almost twice the revenue it needs to function properly. It just has a massive spending problem. I compare this country to a couple making $2 million a year that has 5 kids. One kid is 24, successful as can be and his future is financially set, as he saves far more than he spends. One kid is 25, needs nothing and can pay for himself, but wealthy by no means. One kid is 24, making ends meet, working hard and lives just about from paycheck to paycheck. But he asks them for nothing. The other two are sitting at home and pretty much refuse to do anything. But their parents allow it and they've decided that they're NEVER leaving home. The parents spend and live lavishly, have no idea what it means to budget money and spend more money per week than they earn. Now why the fuck should I feel sorry for this family and their "revenue" problem? That's our country, in my words.

[Behshad]

Except there's a complete absence of facts for his dismissal of that piece, which articulates the truth.

Sometimes, with you guys, it's just not worth it. I'm in a good mood.

Dan, what problem(s) do you, personally, have with the 9-9-9 plan?

The revenues issue, for one.

Killing Medicare is also, what, somewhat questionable?

It's great for small businesses and it's a phenomenal idea to get the "poor" (the same people that can afford cell phones, cigarettes, liquor, lottery tickets, $100 Nikes and every other fucking thing) to start paying up. Revenue? Not an issue. Right now, this country has, probably, almost twice the revenue it needs to function properly. It just has a massive spending problem. I compare this country to a couple making $2 million a year that has 5 kids. One kid is 24, successful as can be and his future is financially set, as he saves far more than he spends. One kid is 25, needs nothing and can pay for himself, but wealthy by no means. One kid is 24, making ends meet, working hard and lives just about from paycheck to paycheck. But he asks them for nothing. The other two are sitting at home and pretty much refuse to do anything. But their parents allow it and they've decided that they're NEVER leaving home. The parents spend and live lavishly, have no idea what it means to budget money and spend more money per week than they earn. Now why the fuck should I feel sorry for this family and their "revenue" problem? That's our country, in my words.

So the 2 24 year olds are twins ? The mom and dad should be put on birthcontrol(stop illegal immgrants) if you ask me, for having 3 children within 24 months , Im assuming the other 2 younger kids are adopted(immigrants) ?

[slucero]

Obama pulls plug on troubled long-term care program in new health law, citing design flaws


By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, October 14,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... story.html

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it is unable to go forward with a major program in the president’s signature health care overhaul law — a new long-term care insurance plan.

Officials said Friday the long-term care program has critical design flaws that can’t be fixed to make it financially self-sustaining.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told Congress in a letter that she does not see a viable path forward at this time. By law, implementation of the program was contingent on Sebelius certifying it financially sound.

The program was supposed to be a voluntary insurance plan for working adults regardless of age or health. Workers would pay an affordable monthly premium during their careers, and could collect a modest daily cash benefit if they became disabled later in life.

The problem all along has been how to ensure enough healthy people would sign up.

A longstanding priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, or CLASS, was spliced into the health care law despite nagging budget worries.

CLASS was intended as a voluntary plan, supported by premiums, not taxpayer dollars. Workers would pay around $100 a month or less. In exchange, they would receive a modest daily cash benefit averaging no less than $50 if they became disabled later in life. Beneficiaries could use the money for services to help them stay at home, or to help with nursing home bills.

Kennedy’s idea was to give families some financial breathing room. The burden of long-term care is growing. Most families cannot afford to hire a home health aide for a frail elder, let alone pay nursing home bills. Long-term care is usually provided by family members, often a spouse who may also have health problems.

But a central design flaw dogged CLASS from the beginning. Unless large numbers of healthy people willingly sign up during their working years, soaring premiums driven by the needs of disabled beneficiaries would destabilize it, eventually requiring a taxpayer bailout.

It’s unclear whether the program can be salvaged. Congressional Republicans are committed to repealing it.

[RossValoryRocks]

Obama pulls plug on troubled long-term care program in new health law, citing design flaws


By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, October 14,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... story.html

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it is unable to go forward with a major program in the president’s signature health care overhaul law — a new long-term care insurance plan.

Officials said Friday the long-term care program has critical design flaws that can’t be fixed to make it financially self-sustaining.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told Congress in a letter that she does not see a viable path forward at this time. By law, implementation of the program was contingent on Sebelius certifying it financially sound.

The program was supposed to be a voluntary insurance plan for working adults regardless of age or health. Workers would pay an affordable monthly premium during their careers, and could collect a modest daily cash benefit if they became disabled later in life.

The problem all along has been how to ensure enough healthy people would sign up.

A longstanding priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, or CLASS, was spliced into the health care law despite nagging budget worries.

CLASS was intended as a voluntary plan, supported by premiums, not taxpayer dollars. Workers would pay around $100 a month or less. In exchange, they would receive a modest daily cash benefit averaging no less than $50 if they became disabled later in life. Beneficiaries could use the money for services to help them stay at home, or to help with nursing home bills.

Kennedy’s idea was to give families some financial breathing room. The burden of long-term care is growing. Most families cannot afford to hire a home health aide for a frail elder, let alone pay nursing home bills. Long-term care is usually provided by family members, often a spouse who may also have health problems.

But a central design flaw dogged CLASS from the beginning. Unless large numbers of healthy people willingly sign up during their working years, soaring premiums driven by the needs of disabled beneficiaries would destabilize it, eventually requiring a taxpayer bailout.

It’s unclear whether the program can be salvaged. Congressional Republicans are committed to repealing it.

Aflac does exactly what this thing does...they have a long term care policy that is cheap as can be.

[Behshad]

The Obama administration adamantly denies it, but rumors are circulating in Washington that his Department of Health and Human Services is already collecting Americans’ private health information, or at least preparing itself to do so.

Rep. Denny Rehberg, the chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education formalized the rumors by asking about them in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday.

“Specifically, I have been told that HHS has already procured a contractor to build a database and that this contractor has already taken steps to acquire personal health care data from a large claims database,” Rehberg wrote. “I would like to know if these reports are, in fact, true. If so, it would represent an egregious violation of the privacy rights that the American public rightfully demands.”

Denny Rehberg sounds like someone around here.

[Seven Wishes2]

Cain is just the flavor of the month, and will plummet in the polls as soon as the details of his plan become more disseminated and he's forced into foreign policy debates.

Incidentally, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found voters support a Democratic candidate over a Republican candidate in their district by eight points (48 percent to 40 percent). Another new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that voters prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress to a Republican-controlled Congress by four points (45 percent to 41 percent).

[Seven Wishes2]

As a Republican, you should be hoping my prognostications come true. Cain would get DESTROYED in a debate with a seasoned, teleprompted politician like Obama.

Romney is the GOP's best and only true chance. He would DEMOLISH Obama in 2012.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Cain would get DESTROYED in a debate with a seasoned, teleprompted politician like Obama.

LOL. This dude has owned most of the debates, that's why the media was limiting his time. I don't even like his politics, but it's great to see a candidate rise and fall based on the merit of his ideas, rather than empty hype (i.e Obama, Fred Thompson, Rick Perry etc etc.) Obama sucked in the 2008 primary debates. Still sucks at every press conference and media appearance.

[slucero]

1st time I've ever quoted myself... hehe

Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:25 am

Pain would be the worst possible GOP candidate at the worst possible time... she's way too polarizing to the swing voter.. she'd make it easy for the Dems to move the swing vote back to BO... I'd bet the GOP made a deal with her so she gives the appearance she might run just to keep the swing vote interested in the Republican side. She is easily seen as more populist than the traditional Republican amongst swing conservatives.. but ultimately that deal has to keep her from announcing...

To win:

1. Obama need to re-capture the party agnostic swing vote he clearly lost at the midterms (he'll need the youth vote but they will be absent)
2. the GOP needs to win back the party agnostic swing vote..

The GOP will need a populist candidate who can sway (and WIN) the swing vote... a male Latin or Black candidate...

1. it negates the race benefit Obama has...
2. forces the discussion to the issues.. where they can lay the heat on Obama for the economy and go after the swing (read middle class) voter.

Obama has to have the swing votes to win. Thats why he is positioning himself as more populist. Given the economy.. expect the his swing push to be huge... I'd expect the youth vote to be totally absent this time around, because the youth voter is experiencing unemployment at twice the national rate... so they are going to be even more apathetic (and absent) than they usually are at the voting booth..


The Dems are praying for Palin to announce...

Palin has declined... and Cain is quickly becoming the populist candidate... and Obama can't touch him... he doesn't have the resume....

This is gonna get interesting...

[donnaplease]

Cain is just the flavor of the month, and will plummet in the polls as soon as the details of his plan become more disseminated and he's forced into foreign policy debates.

Incidentally, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found voters support a Democratic candidate over a Republican candidate in their district by eight points (48 percent to 40 percent). Another new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that voters prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress to a Republican-controlled Congress by four points (45 percent to 41 percent).

Gallup: At 77 Percent, Cain Leads Republican Field in Favorable Rating

Herman Cain has the highest favorable rating of any Republican presidential candidate among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents polled by Gallup, according to a survey released today.

Cain's 77-percent favorable rating edges out former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whose favorable rating is 72 percent, says Gallup.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is third at 66 percent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is fourth at 63 percent, former Sen. Rick Santorum is fifth at 62 percent, Rep. Michele Bachmann is sixth at 59 percent, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is seventh at 54 percent, and Rep. Ron Paul is eighth at 53 percent.

The survey was conducted between Sept. 26 and Oct. 9. The respondents were asked whether they had a strongly favorable, favorable, unfavorable, or strongly unfavorable view of each candidate. The percentages reported above were the combined responses of stongly favorable and favorable.

Herman Cain also had the lowest unfavorable rating--13 percent. Romney's unfavorable rating was 18 percent.

Wow, but I thought all Republicans were racist and hated Obama ONLY because he was black...

[donnaplease]

I like Cain's no-nonsense response to the issues. I think he hurt himself big-time with his "blacks are brainwashed" comment, but I hope he can bounce back from that. The more I listen to him and learn about his background, the more I really would love to see him as our next POTUS.

[Monker]

I've always said you should give those convicted of violent offenses, rape, and pedophilia the choice between castration and permanent incarceration with only horsebread and water to consume, or...

Give them a permanent, massive "Born in the U.S.A." tattoo on their backs (shaving their back hair when necessary), and a "Fuck Allah and All Muslims and _____ (insert your desired country / drop zone here)" tattoo on the chest (allowing for the inevitable man-boobs, of course). Then, you give the convict a pair of pink Eurotrash speedos, $5, and sleathily parachute-drop him in the exact epicenter of Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, or any other fanatical Islamic state. Tell the bastard if he makes it back to the states alive, all charges will be dismissed.

It would save a shit load of money on prison costs, and I betcha it would reduce the crime rate significantly as a deterrent.

I am on board with this!

Have either of you sat on a jury of a rape or murder case?

Nope. Have you? Does it matter?

Yes, I have, and yes it does. Until you sit in a jury box and face somebody on trial for such a crime then you are just blowing steam. And, if I knew the sentence was possibly castration, or something equally ridiculous and cruel, I would have looked at one of the other lesser charges. You are potentially destroying somebody's life with such a conviction...and facing years in jail and marked as a sex criminal is enough. And, yes, the victims life is already destroyed, I know that very well. But, as sick of a mind it takes to rape somebody, it takes an equally sick mind to imagine such punishments and expect a jury to pass judgement on a person and know that is going to be their punishment.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

a laudable plan!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/66114.html

[Seven Wishes2]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

I understand the point he was trying to make-that you cant let the President have unlmited power to do just anything he wants to citizens under the pretense of security is fair enough- but I agree this was the wrong situation to use to make that point.

[donnaplease]

Obama is a HORRIBLE president and a disgrace to the office. I disagree with most of his politics, but I still want him to stand up and be a LEADER for our country and TRY to get things back on track. He is not interested in leading our country, he is only interested in his own re-election and hammering the republican party. It's disgusting. His taxpayer-funded campaign road trip through NC and VA today touting a bill that has NO chance is yet another example of how low he will go to try to fool us into thinking he cares about the American people. Get your fucking ass back to DC and try doing a little WORK for a change, maybe something will get done! Anybody that votes for this clown next year should go straight from the voting booth to the shrink, because they're in need of some really powerful meds!!!

[conversationpc]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

He's one of the few politicians from either major party, or the Libertarian party for that matter, that I believe says what he actually thinks instead of pandering to one group or another. Voting for him for President is another story, though. I think he'd make a great candidate for a cabinet position but I can't vote for him for President.

[Seven Wishes2]

Obama is a HORRIBLE president and a disgrace to the office. I disagree with most of his politics, but I still want him to stand up and be a LEADER for our country and TRY to get things back on track. He is not interested in leading our country, he is only interested in his own re-election and hammering the republican party. It's disgusting. His taxpayer-funded campaign road trip through NC and VA today touting a bill that has NO chance is yet another example of how low he will go to try to fool us into thinking he cares about the American people. Get your fucking ass back to DC and try doing a little WORK for a change, maybe something will get done! Anybody that votes for this clown next year should go straight from the voting booth to the shrink, because they're in need of some really powerful meds!!!

Donna, I'm not a big fan, either, but the GOP has been more obstructionist the past two years than any party in history, by a long shot. He tried for too long to be the "moderate voice of reason" when in fact his policies ranged from conservative (maintaining the Bush tax cuts and the Patriot Act) to overtly leftist (the stimulus package). His right of center tacks alienated his base, and his liberal jibs drew the ire of the right.

He certainly works harder than Bush Sr. Not that it matters.

Now, collectively, almost than 4 in 5 people support the Wall Street protesters AND Obama's jobs bill. You're in a distinct minority. The jobs plan is structured around sound fiscal policy, and ideas the GOP has traditionally supported in times of economic stagnation. Your inability to see that proves your disdain for him (justified or not) outweighs your ability to grasp facts and reality.

[Seven Wishes2]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

He's one of the few politicians from either major party, or the Libertarian party for that matter, that I believe says what he actually thinks instead of pandering to one group or another. Voting for him for President is another story, though. I think he'd make a great candidate for a cabinet position but I can't vote for him for President.

I feel you. I want to WANT to vote for him, but I don't. Make sense?

[AR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efKguI0NFek

[The_Noble_Cause]

...to overtly leftist (the stimulus package).

Please. Anyone who thinks that McCain wouldn't have passed a similar package is a fool. It was basic econ, not left or right.

[The_Noble_Cause]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

Ron Paul and Hank Williams Jr. are both right. When an American president takes to their airwaves to boast about killing American citizens, we are entering Hitler territory.

[conversationpc]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

Ron Paul and Hank Williams Jr. are both right. When an American president takes to their airwaves to boast about killing American citizens, we are entering Hitler territory.

Wow...This is the 2nd time I've agreed with you recently. Though I can't say I'm sad that they're dead, because they were terrorists. We shouldn't be assassinating them without giving them their due process as American citizens.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

That's why I want to vote for Ron Paul...except when he goes off the deep end (i.e. his stance on the more-than-justified killing of a murderous American AQ terrorist).

He's one of the few politicians from either major party, or the Libertarian party for that matter, that I believe says what he actually thinks instead of pandering to one group or another. Voting for him for President is another story, though. I think he'd make a great candidate for a cabinet position but I can't vote for him for President.

I feel you. I want to WANT to vote for him, but I don't. Make sense?

Your better sense got the best of you..he's a nut. Follow the gut.

Whilst I support Gary Johnson (the no hoper with 1% in the polls, I know) because he presents this liberatarian ideas in a much clearer common sense way than Paul, but Paul isn't a nut. The truth is year by year your liberties are being chipped a way bit by bit. You can't set up a lemonade stand or give away food on your boulevard with out regisering with the government. Govt gropes you at airports, regulate every aspect of your life and steals the money you earn to build a good life for you and your children.

Hate to give you a newsflash, none of the true blue conservative candidates - eg the Perrys, Santorums, Bachmans and Gingriches, aren't going to do anything to reverse this process. There's nothing nutty about taking liberty seriously.

[RedWingFan]

Your better sense got the best of you..he's a nut. Follow the gut.

Whilst I support Gary Johnson (the no hoper with 1% in the polls, I know) because he presents this liberatarian ideas in a much clearer common sense way than Paul, but Paul isn't a nut. The truth is year by year your liberties are being chipped a way bit by bit. You can't set up a lemonade stand or give away food on your boulevard with out regisering with the government. Govt gropes you at airports, regulate every aspect of your life and steals the money you earn to build a good life for you and your children.

Hate to give you a newsflash, none of the true blue conservative candidates - eg the Perrys, Santorums, Bachmans and Gingriches, aren't going to do anything to reverse this process. There's nothing nutty about taking liberty seriously.

All I needed to hear from Paul is that the U.S. was responsible for what 9/11 by our policies. Can't believe that that nutjob gets to waste every ones time. Wacko.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

All I needed to hear from Paul is that the U.S. was responsible for what 9/11 by our policies. Can't believe that that nutjob gets to waste every ones time. Wacko.

Paul voted to authorize military action against Afghanistan cititing the fact that we were right to defend ourselves against those responsible for those attacks. And is on record stating that 9/11 was the fault of the terrorists. He didn't say the US was responsible- what he is pointing out is that some of our policies in the Middle East over the past fifty years haven't always served us well in contributing to our security.

I dont agree with every single foreign policy prescription that Paul comes out with (after all I used to be the World's biggest neo-con and proud of it ) but the thrust of his foreign policy simply echoes two Republican Presidents. Taft (emphasis on commerce over force in foreign policy) and Eisehower (warning against a runaway military industrial complex).

What is ironic conservatives rail against big government deploring the way it screws everything up, and then support the governement when it creates a huge military - industrial complex which spends endlessly and wastefully crowding out private capacity in the economy (same way that non military spending does), has to be funded by the theft of high taxes. I know defense is consitutional, and there is a bad world out there, but war is necessary for the health of big oppresive govt.- we ought to beware of it.

[RedWingFan]

All I needed to hear from Paul is that the U.S. was responsible for what 9/11 by our policies. Can't believe that that nutjob gets to waste every ones time. Wacko.

Paul voted to authorize military action against Afghanistan cititing the fact that we were right to defend ourselves against those responsible for those attacks. And is on record stating that 9/11 was the fault of the terrorists. He didn't say the US was responsible- what he is pointing out is that some of our policies in the Middle East over the past fifty years haven't always served us well in contributing to our security.

I dont agree with every single foreign policy prescription that Paul comes out with (after all I used to be the World's biggest neo-con and proud of it ) but the thrust of his foreign policy simply echoes two Republican Presidents. Taft (emphasis on commerce over force in foreign policy) and Eisehower (warning against a runaway military industrial complex).

What is ironic conservatives rail against big government deploring the way it screws everything up, and then support the governement when it creates a huge military - industrial complex which spends endlessly and wastefully crowding out private capacity in the economy (same way that non military spending does), has to be funded by the theft of high taxes. I know defense is consitutional, and there is a bad world out there, but war is necessary for the health of big oppresive govt.- we ought to beware of it.

There's no debating this. Screw him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfBKKh0C2eo

[RossValoryRocks]

...to overtly leftist (the stimulus package).

Please. Anyone who thinks that McCain wouldn't have passed a similar package is a fool. It was basic econ, not left or right.

The only thing the stimulus did was put us further in debt...debt we could not and cannot afford...that McCain would have asked for a similar stimulus shows that Washington is truly fucked and does not have our interests at heart. The lead up to passing it was full of trite statements like "shovel ready", which turned out <gasp!> to not be true.

The economy would have been better served to have let the businesses, including the GM's and Chryslers of the fiasco, fail. Other companies would have come in and filled the niches that were created, capital would have been freed up for investment, and venture capitalists would have come in to support those new businesses. It has happened in EVERY single recession since the beginning of time.

Recessions and even depressions are part of the natural business cycle, and are healthy in the long run as they reset the field and give new ideas and innovations to take root and grow, but politicians don't think in the long run...they are only focused on the next election cycle for themselves and their party.

[donnaplease]

Obama is a HORRIBLE president and a disgrace to the office. I disagree with most of his politics, but I still want him to stand up and be a LEADER for our country and TRY to get things back on track. He is not interested in leading our country, he is only interested in his own re-election and hammering the republican party. It's disgusting. His taxpayer-funded campaign road trip through NC and VA today touting a bill that has NO chance is yet another example of how low he will go to try to fool us into thinking he cares about the American people. Get your fucking ass back to DC and try doing a little WORK for a change, maybe something will get done! Anybody that votes for this clown next year should go straight from the voting booth to the shrink, because they're in need of some really powerful meds!!!

Donna, I'm not a big fan, either, but the GOP has been more obstructionist the past two years than any party in history, by a long shot. He tried for too long to be the "moderate voice of reason" when in fact his policies ranged from conservative (maintaining the Bush tax cuts and the Patriot Act) to overtly leftist (the stimulus package). His right of center tacks alienated his base, and his liberal jibs drew the ire of the right.

He certainly works harder than Bush Sr. Not that it matters.

Now, collectively, almost than 4 in 5 people support the Wall Street protesters AND Obama's jobs bill. You're in a distinct minority. The jobs plan is structured around sound fiscal policy, and ideas the GOP has traditionally supported in times of economic stagnation. Your inability to see that proves your disdain for him (justified or not) outweighs your ability to grasp facts and reality.

It has nothing to do with the GOP or the protestors, it's about Obama and his utter disrespect for the office that the American people gave him. He dishonors the office every fucking time he opens his mouth. I don't need to have my disdain for him proven - I already know it and now will shout it from the rooftop. Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative... We ALL deserve better than this pathetic excuse for a leader.

[RedWingFan]

Just watched Ron Paul defend the enemy combatants in Guantanamo. Yeah, he's got my vote.